Vitamin D deficiency is connected with conditions such as rickets, which causes softness or weakening of the bones. However, this recent study by lead author Dr. Sreeram Ramagopalan from the Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics at Oxford University and his colleagues further implicates vitamin D in other serious illnesses.

Vitamin D interacts with our genes through the vitamin D receptor. This receptor binds to the human genome at specific locations and in this way influences how a gene is expressed. In the study, the researchers used DNA sequencing technology to map vitamin D receptor binding throughout the human genome and found more than 2000 places where this binding happened. They discovered that the vitamin D receptor binding is enhanced at specific areas of the human genome that is associated with autoimmune diseases like type I diabetes, MS, RA and Crohn’s disease, as well as certain cancers, including leukemia and colorectal cancer. These illnesses are caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors and vitamin D deficiency appears to be a major environmental factor in increasing the risk of developing such disorders. The study also found sites for vitamin D receptor binding in areas of the genome that contain genetic changes more common in people from Europe and Asia. This offered support for the theory that lighter skin and hair color evolved as populations moved to more northern and less sunny areas in order to maximize vitamin D absorption from the sun.

What does this mean in a practical sense? Dr. Ramagopalan is quoted as saying ‘There is now evidence supporting a role for vitamin D in susceptibility to a host of diseases. Vitamin D supplements during pregnancy and the early years could have a beneficial effect on a child’s health in later life.” Some countries (e.g., France) have started public health measures to help protect pregnant women and small children against vitamin D deficiency.

How to Assess Your Vitamin D Level and Increase Your Levels

It is estimated that 1 billion people worldwide do not get enough vitamin D. In the US, as many as 70% of children and adults are D deficient. The cause of this is a combination of not enough sun exposure and a diet low in vitamin D. Certain medications may also impact vitamin D absorption and kidney and liver disease can also lead to vitamin D deficiency.

To increase your level of vitamin D, include more oily fish, such as salmon, mackerel and tuna in your diet. Egg yolks and mushrooms also contain vitamin D and you can choose cereal and milk fortified with vitamin D.

Vitamin D is also sometimes called the “sunshine vitamin” because your skin absorbs it through the rays of the sun. In fact, in the summer 15 minutes of sun exposure (without sunblock) can give you about 20,000 IU of vitamin D. On the other hand, it is generally not recommended that you expose yourself to sun without sunblock for longer periods of time, due to the risk of skin damage and skin cancer.

It’s a good idea to use vitamin D supplements. The Institute of Health has set the recommended dietary allowance to be 600 units a day, but this is generally accepted to be much too low. As well, with vitamin D there is no “one-size-fits-all” solution – how much you need depends on factors like how D deficient you are, which medical conditions you have, etc. It usually recommended that you should supplement by adding 1-2,000 IU of vitamin D per day, although people who are severely deficient or have certain medical conditions may take up to 5-10,000 IU per day. Vitamin D in liquid form, usually available in a health food store, has better absorption rates and are therefore recommended above vitamin D tablets.

The knowledge that vitamin D can not just make you feel better, but may also help lower the risk of cancer and autoimmune disorders is amazing news. Perhaps the future will bring even more incredible findings about the importance of vitamin D.